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| Iraq-Jordan |
| Najaf ops, from DEBKA... |
| 2004-08-12 |
| Today's DEBKA headlines... DEBKAfile's military sources report Najef standoff nears climax. US Marines-Iraqi National Guards cordons thrown up around Shiite city - one external, second enclosing Old City where fighting rages around Imam Ali Mosque. Reports Sadr has booby-trapped shrine and threatens to blow it up with 2,000 militiamen inside if US-Iraqi force storms in. Earlier, US F-16 jets leveled Old City house thought occupied by Sadr. He was not there. US generals seek fast end to showdown before general conflagration sparked. Iraqi vice president Ibrahim Jafferi and national security adviser Mufaq Rubai at scene trying to reach Sadr and mediate end to fighting. Also from DEBKAfile's military sources: US troop build-up east and north of Sunni Triangle hotbed of Fallujah to prevent guerrilla forces taking advantage of Najef standoff to strike American troops. |
| Posted by:Fred |